NameCensus.

UK surname

Rajab

A surname potentially derived from an Arabic given name meaning "praise" or "to glorify".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rajab is 102 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

2016

102 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Rajab surname distribution map

The map shows where the Rajab surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Rajab surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rajab over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 37 #33,964
1998 modern 34 #34,433
1999 modern 30 #34,939
2000 modern 32 #34,705
2001 modern 33 #34,436
2002 modern 36 #34,480
2003 modern 36 #34,522
2004 modern 38 #34,555
2005 modern 47 #34,011
2006 modern 54 #33,780
2007 modern 58 #33,731
2008 modern 71 #32,753
2009 modern 79 #32,372
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 97 #31,499
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Rajabs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Kensington and Chelsea and Enfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackburn with Darwen 003 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Bolton 011 Bolton
3 Kensington and Chelsea 011 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Enfield 020 Enfield
5 Bolton 005 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rajab

These lists show first names that appear often with the Rajab surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rajab

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rajab, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Rajab surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rajab household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rajab is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rajab is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rajab falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rajab is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Rajab, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rajab

The surname "RAJAB" is of Arabic origin and is derived from the Arabic word "rajab," which is the name of the seventh month in the Islamic calendar. The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East region during the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE.

The name "RAJAB" is closely associated with the Islamic faith and holds significant religious and cultural importance. In the early Islamic era, many individuals adopted names related to the Islamic calendar or religious events as a way to commemorate and honor their faith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "RAJAB" can be found in historical manuscripts and records from the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, which ruled the Islamic world from the 7th to the 13th centuries CE. These manuscripts often contained lists of individuals with various surnames, including "RAJAB."

During the medieval period, the name "RAJAB" gained popularity and spread across various regions of the Islamic world, including the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe. It was commonly used by scholars, poets, and other prominent figures within the Islamic intellectual and cultural circles.

One notable individual with the surname "RAJAB" was Abu Bakr al-Rajab (1090-1169 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and hadith compiler from Baghdad. His work, "Al-Dhayl 'ala Tabaqat al-Hanabilah," remains an important historical source on the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence.

Another prominent figure was Qutb al-Din al-Rajab al-Misri (1228-1293 CE), an Egyptian scholar and Sufi mystic known for his contributions to the field of Islamic spirituality. His works, such as "Al-Tawassul wa'l-Wasilah," had a significant impact on the development of Sufi thought and practices.

In the 14th century, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (1335-1393 CE) was a renowned Syrian scholar and jurist who wrote extensively on Islamic law, hadith, and theology. His book, "Jami' al-'Ulum wa'l-Hikam," is considered a seminal work on Islamic ethics and spiritual guidance.

The surname "RAJAB" was also found in various parts of the Ottoman Empire, where it was often associated with individuals of religious or scholarly backgrounds. One notable figure was Mustafa Rajab Pasha (1718-1770 CE), an Ottoman statesman and governor who served in various administrative roles during the 18th century.

During the 19th century, the name "RAJAB" continued to be used in various Islamic communities across the Middle East and North Africa. One example is Muhammad Rajab al-Nabulsi (1816-1905 CE), a Syrian scholar and poet known for his contributions to Arabic literature and Islamic studies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Rajab surname: questions and answers

How common is the Rajab surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Rajab a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Rajab surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from an Arabic given name meaning "praise" or "to glorify".

What does the Rajab map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rajab bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.